More Than Smouldering Bins: France’s Unrest Deserves Serious Attention

A few days ago, the Times of Malta told us that the protests in France amounted to little more than a few burning bins. In truth, the situation is proving worse than many thought. These protests now risk bringing down Macron and could even affect the EU. People in France are using the French national anthem against the Republic, and eventually it could be used against the EU, as protesters increasingly see both as structures of tyranny.

Crowds at these protests are shouting, “MACRON, GET OUT!” They erupt with cries of “OUT, OUT, OUT!” The protests are growing day by day, as thousands raise their voices and anger spreads across France. The French people WANT THEIR COUNTRY BACK!

Even the war in Ukraine is affecting the protests. People have been heard shouting, “Macron, we will not die for Ukraine!” Thousands of French people have rallied in Paris against aid to Kyiv. Protesters identify themselves as citizens and patriots—“Les Patriotes”. At rallies in Paris, they have demanded an end to aid to Ukraine, as well as withdrawal from the EU and NATO. Placards read, “Macron, we won’t die for Ukraine!” and “Macron, get lost!”

Yesterday’s protests in Paris were impressive. Protesters even took over the Paris Stock Exchange. The French are not stopping: this is the beginning of a revolution. France is burning amid riots.

The entrance to Lycée Roger-Verlomme in Paris has been set ablaze, adding to the long list of schools damaged during nationwide protests that began on Monday.

Where is Macron? French President Emmanuel Macron is understood to be under heavy protection, especially after thousands of French patriots and farmers reportedly stormed the National Assembly. Their demands are clear. They sang La Marseillaise while demanding that France leave the EU and put an end to the destructive agendas they believe are ruining the country.

For their part, the police are finding it difficult to control the protesters. Videos show officers retreating under a barrage of projectiles. What happens when the police realise that they are on the wrong side of history? They will join the revolutionaries. Firefighters and police officers are standing down, choosing instead to stand with the people of France. They have stopped taking orders and are standing up for the people’s rights.

The situation is spiralling out of control. Will Macron call in the military?

An estimated 3.5 million people have protested across France, with 800,000 demonstrating in Paris alone, against the decision of one man in a democratic country. On social media, this is being framed as a fight for democracy.

Meanwhile, the mainstream media are drawing a curtain over these protests, using the Daphne Caruana Galizia story as a screen to avoid discussing and investigating the situation in Paris. The cordon sanitaire of which Ursula von der Leyen spoke now appears to extend to situations such as this. In my view, the mainstream media in Malta are taking orders or cues from Brussels to avoid publishing the full facts about a crisis that could spell the end of the EU as we know it.